David DeCoste and Lou Valanzola, the Republican candidates for state representative in the 5th Plymouth District see eye to eye when it comes to the main issues.

Both favor cutting taxes and state spending, raising local aid, and reforming the state’s welfare system. They also cite their financial backgrounds.

And both have local government experience, David DeCoste as a current Norwell selectman and Lou Valanzola from his six years as a Rockland selectman.

The two are seeking the Republican nomination in the Sept. 9 primary election. The winner will face two-term incumbent State Rep. Rhonda Nyman of Hanover in the Nov. 4 state election. Nyman is unopposed in seeking the Democratic Party nomination.

The district is made up of the towns of Hanover, Norwell and Rockland.

DeCoste, a retired Army major and a Gulf War veteran, has pledged to limit himself to no more than four, 2-year terms in the House and said he has no plans to seek higher office.

“This is supposed to be public service, not self-service,” DeCoste said.

Among his priorities would be putting the state pension system on a sound financial footing and changes in the state’s affordable housing law, Chapter 40B, which would allow communities to reject development plans for environmental reasons or impact on its infrastructure.

Valanzola points to his three decades of experience working as a controller and handling budgets.

“I think you need someone up there who understands the numbers,” Valanzola said. “I have that practical experience.”

He also also cites his wide range of community involvement, including serving as a youth sports coach and member of the local cable TV advisory board.

Valanzola said he also supports more transparency and accountability in state government.

Both said they could effectively work with Democratic members if elected. The House, like the Senate, is overwhelmingly Democratic.

Both GOP candidates also said they would not vote to raise taxes, and favor eliminating automatic increases in the state gas tax and reducing the state sales tax to 5 percent from the current 6.25 percent.

DeCoste and Valanzola said reducing taxes is the key to bringing new business to the state.

And they are critical of the way the state determines how much money goes to its cities and towns.

DeCoste said the state picks up more of the cost of educating students in Lawrence than people in the city pay.

Valanzola said the state budget shouldn’t increase at a higher rate than the rate of aid flowing from the state to cities and towns.

Valanzola, 54, works as a controller for a Brockton company. He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Bentley University.

Page 2 of 2 - DeCoste, 51, has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Northeastern University and a master’s in financial economics from Boston University. He is a principal in several real estate trusts, and teaches graduate courses at Boston University.